City woman allegedly hit, choked in domestic assault

February 5, 2013

A city woman was beaten and choked during a domestic incident that police responded to just after 5 p.m. Sunday, city police said.

James Earl Williams, 48, of 37 Eldred St., was arrested on charges of simple assault and harassment after allegedly hitting and choking Barbara Moore at that address, police said.

It was the second time in three hours that police had responded to the address, but there was no arrest made during the first response by police.

Police responded the second time after a neighbor contacted them claiming, he walked into the home and saw Williams on top of Moore strangling her. When police arrived they heard Moore yelling, "Get off me," according to the affidavit.

Williams allegedly did not listen to orders to get on the ground. Several officers subsequently subdued him and he was placed under arrest.

Once the situation was controlled, Moore told police that she was hit in the face several times and Williams broke a wooden chair over her head.

Her right arm was cut, a wound caused by a plastic chair that he struck her with, according to the affidavit.

Moore had a bite mark on a finger and bruises on her arms, police said.

Moore said Williams hit her using a vacuum and her neck was red where she told police Williams had pinned her against a wall, using a sledge hammer to try to strangle her, police said.

Both Moore and Williams required medical treatment at the scene.

Arraigned before District Judge James H. Sortman, Williams was incarcerated in Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $15,000 bail.